The Child Emperor

Hearing that Broken Iron City was lost and Shenxiongguan was in danger, Cui Hong, who was returning to Dachu from the Western Regions, couldn't help feeling ashamed and annoyed.

He is the minister of military affairs, and he strongly advocates sending troops to the Western Regions. His original intention is that the Western Regions are weak. After being pacified in one fell swoop, he can both intimidate the enemy and make meritorious deeds easily. He did not expect the enemy to be so cunning.

Cui Hong divided the army into three divisions. The front part followed him on the starry night and rushed back to Chu land as soon as possible. The middle part marched normally in case of emergency, and the rear part escorted the baggage slowly.

If Shenxiongguan falls, the capital will be in an emergency, and his great victory in the Western Regions will become insignificant, or even a sin.

Cui Hong was in a hurry, and he left half of the army halfway. He only brought 5,000 people lightly, and rushed back to Yumen Pass before winter.

I heard that Shenxiongguan is still standing, and the emperor is personally commanding the battle of Mayi City in Jincheng. Cui Hong breathed a sigh of relief and planned to stay for one night, waiting for the troops in the rear to catch up before making a decision. It was too late to go to Mayi City. Shenxiongguan sent troops to cut off the enemy's retreat.

Cui Hong slept soundly, and only had a dream in the early morning, thinking that he was still leading troops to fight in the Western Regions, and there seemed to be enemy troops in all directions, but after rushing over, he couldn't see a single figure. The soldiers behind him were gone, and he was the only one left to run around...

Cui Hong woke up suddenly, sitting for a long while still having lingering fears, his body was not very good, and at this time, the old wound was aching.

He didn't call anyone. He was going to lie down and sleep for a while. He was really tired these days. He had been marching in a hurry.

Just as he leaned back, hurried footsteps came from outside the door, followed by an urgent voice, Lord Shang Shu?

What's the matter? Cui Hong got out of bed.

There is an emergency military situation.

As soon as Cui Hong opened his mouth, the entourage who was sleeping outside also got up, and immediately lit the oil lamp and opened the door.

Cui Hong walked to the door with his clothes on, stared solemnly at the general Shao Kejian who came to report the letter, took an official letter from the other party, and his expression changed suddenly just by looking at the first line.

Shenxiongguan lost...

Yesterday's news also said that Shenxiongguan is worry-free, and the decisive battle will be held in Mayi City. How can it be lost overnight?

Cui Hong continued to look down. The content of the letter was very simple. He did not elaborate on the process and reasons. He only said that Shenxiongguan had fallen, and asked Yumenguan to support immediately.

When the letter arrived, Shenxiongguan did not know that the Minister of War had rushed back, so he only asked Shao Kejian, the gatekeeper of Yumen, for help.

Where's the messenger?

outside.

Cui Hong put on his clothes immediately, but he still couldn't believe it, and couldn't help asking: Could it be a false report? Isn't the main force of the enemy in Mayi City? Shenxiongguan is easy to defend and difficult to attack... Who is the defender?

General Chen Xiao. Shao Kejian replied.

Well, the person chosen by His Majesty should be fine.

Cui Hong hurried to the main hall in the front yard. The post soldiers were still waiting there, but he couldn't provide any more information. He received the letter halfway, and he didn't know how many hands he had lost before, and he didn't even know the content of the letter.

Cui Hong is not the kind of person who makes decisions on the spot, and rushing back to Yumen Pass is his most urgent performance.

He waited another morning, convened the generals and officials, and formulated multiple plans to deal with different situations.

After noon, Cui Hong no longer hesitated, and ordered Shao Kejian to immediately lead the Yumenguan garrison to set off as a vanguard to Xiaozhou City.

Xiaozhou City is an ancient city and an extremely important checkpoint. Shenxiongguan is lost, and it is the second line of defense. If this city is lost again, there will be no danger in the Guanzhong. Yumenguan in the west, Mancang City in the east, and even in the south. The capital will face the direct attack of the enemy army.

In particular, Mancang City was the most important place for grain storage in Guanzhong. The army west of Hangu Pass had to rely on this city for grain supply.

Cui Hong was restless, and for the first time felt that the enemy was so powerful that it even made him fearful.

He waited for another half a day and a night. After the other 5,000 soldiers arrived, the 5,000 who arrived earlier set off immediately and went to Xiaozhou City for reinforcements.

News kept coming from the front, Shao Kejian rushed to Xiaozhou City, only a few hours ahead of the enemy army, and then there was a big battle. The Chu army stood firm and barely stabilized, but the news of Shenxiongguan was interrupted.

Cui Hong could no longer stay at Yumen Pass. The next morning, he led 5,000 troops and set out, leaving orders for the middle and rear divisions. After arriving at Yumen Pass, he could not stay and go to Xiaozhou City immediately.

When Cui Hong arrived, Xiao Zhoucheng was already in a mess.

Since the completion of Shenxiongguan, the status of Xiaozhou City has declined, and it has not been renovated for many years. The enemy army came in a hurry, and there was no equipment to help, so the city was not captured immediately, but it still caused great damage, and the old bricks were scattered all over the place.

Cui Hong entered the city and climbed the wall to watch, only to see the darkness in the distance, full of unfamiliar enemy forces, they temporarily gave up the hard attack, arranged the formation, and left an open space in the middle, obviously waiting for the siege equipment from behind to arrive.

Xiao Zhoucheng couldn't hold it, Cui Hong snorted in his heart, and panic became more and more in his heart. For the first time, he had a terrible thought: Da Chu is going to die.

When the incident happened suddenly, the emperor and the court officials were absent. The Minister of War was the backbone of the Chu army, and he had to make decisions and make up his mind about everything. Cui Hong admired his son-in-law a little, and the young emperor seemed to be better at dealing with this kind of situation.

When Cui Hong turned around, he barely kept his composure, went down the wall to summon the generals, and first asked how Shenxiongguan fell.

There are some defeated soldiers in the city who have retreated from Shenxiongguan. There are different opinions. Some say that traitors open the door to accept the enemy, some say that the sky descends from the gods and burns the city, and some say that the mountain shakes and shakes the city wall...

Only one person's statement is a little more credible. He said that the enemy army hid a group of siege equipment in the valley outside the city. If you don't retreat, you may have been trapped in the city.

The enemy army not only has equipment, but also is very sophisticated. If Shenxiongguan can't stand it, Xiaozhoucheng can't stand it.

Cui Hong did not mention this, and ordered Shao Kejian to defend the city, The city is still alive, the people who die in the city are dead, and those who abandon the city and flee are a death penalty. I want to return to Beijing immediately, and deploy troops to come to support. For ten days, you must stick to it at least. ten days.

Shao Kejian took the order, Cui Hong left his own army, and only brought a few personal soldiers to the south to return to Beijing. When passing the intersection leading to Mancang City, he sent someone to give orders to the generals defending the city.

Must not show cowardice, this is Cui Hong's only thought.

The capital was already in chaos, and the streets were full of people, all clamoring to flee, but they didn't know where to flee.

Cui Hong received the highest level of courtesy, and many ministers greeted him at the gate of the city. Prime Minister Zhuo Ruhe called him to the Qinzheng Hall to discuss matters.

There were more than ten ministers gathered in the Qinzheng Hall. As soon as they saw Cui Hong, they all greeted him, regarded him as a great savior, and asked about the situation ahead.

Cui Hong wanted to know more about the situation in the capital.

Zhuo Ruhe was relatively calm, ordered everyone to shut up, and explained in person: Everything has come together, Jincheng news, the Chu army won a great victory in Mayi City, and the enemy army was scattered. I didn't expect Shenxiongguan to be... sigh, I have sent Someone sent the letter, but His Majesty has not replied yet.

Where can the enemy have so many troops to fight in two places at the same time? Cui Hong couldn't believe it.

Zhuo Ruhe and others could not explain this problem.

How many soldiers are there in the capital? Cui Hong asked.

Some of the old guards, plus the soldiers temporarily recruited, number more than 50,000. Zhuo Ruhe was not idle, and he did his best to mobilize the army these days.

50,000 people, too few. Cui Hong was thinking about a question along the way: Shenxiongguan fell, Xiaozhou City would be destroyed, Mancang City would be defeated, what should the capital do?

Now he threw the question to the prime minister, The enemy army is huge, Xiaozhou City won't last long, at this moment, it may have fallen, the enemy army will attack the capital in a few days, 50,000 people will not help, the battle is right. Retreat, please make a decision for the Prime Minister.

The ministers were shocked when they heard the words, if even the Minister of War was not sure, then the capital was really in danger.

How about the battle? How about the retreat? Zhuo Ruhe asked.

In the case of war, immediately transfer all the soldiers on the front line, abandon Xiaozhou City, burn down Mancang City, and concentrate on guarding the capital. Win or lose, it's up to fate. If you retire, you will go to Kanto, and you have to leave immediately to guard Hangu Pass. , there are more opportunities to block the enemy.

Everyone was speechless, all eyes turned to the prime minister.

Zhuo Ruhe was silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed: I only know the emperor's difficulty today, if His Majesty is here...

Everyone sighed in unison. Like the prime minister, they missed the emperor very much.

I shouldn't have agreed to the imperial expedition in person. Yuan Jiuding, the minister of personnel, said in a trembling voice.

Your Majesty will not be able to defend Shenxiongguan if he stays in the capital, but may lose the victory of Mayi City. In that case, we can't even retreat to Kanto. Cui Hong wanted to say something for his son-in-law.

All the ministers were speechless again, and finally Zhuo Ruhe said, There is no need to be humble at this time. Everyone has something to say. Mrs. Cui, you say it first, what is the safest way to do it?

Cui Hong understood that the prime minister and others were afraid of taking responsibility and had to make up their own minds, retire.

Abandon the capital? Zhuo Ruhe said in astonishment.

Cui Hong scolded secretly and said: At least the people in the palace must be sent to Luoyang for refuge, the capital must be guarded, and Hangu Pass must be guarded, especially Hangu Pass, which will soon be the most important line of defense. I will personally supervise the guard, as for the capital...

Cui Hong glanced over, and the ministers bowed their heads one after another.

Zhuo Ruhe said: It is my duty to guard the capital.

Cui Hong looked at Zhuo Ruhe, thinking that the old fox has moments of bravery too.

According to the rules, everyone should persuade a few words at this time, but people are flustered, the rules are not so important, and no one speaks.

Zhuo Ruhe said: The incident is urgent, and His Majesty is not here, so I have to decide the matter. Mrs. Cui, let me ask again, can Xiao Zhoucheng really be able to keep it?

I can't hold it. Cui Hong was very sure.

Where's the capital? I can't hold it.

Hard to say.

Zhuo Ruhe pondered for a moment, Since this is the case—the palace is going to be moved to Luoyang, and Mrs. Lau Cui will be invited to the palace. Hangu Pass is the most important, and there will also be Mr. Lau Cui guarding. In case of emergency, the two will also be moved to Luoyang.

Zhuo Ruhe paused, Others will stay with me in the capital. Unless Your Majesty has a decree, they must not leave. You and I are both Chu ministers. It's time to be loyal.